What to do, what to do!! I love to eat all my childhood favorites, especially around the holidays! What is a person to do to maintain a heart-healthy eating plan with all the holiday fare within arm’s reach? Fear not, my friends, help is just a click away! I love the Internet ... I love the vastness ... I love the accessibility - I love to research!There are so many websites offering a lighter fare for food prep, but where do you start? How about one at a time. Let’s start with Thanksgiving. Assuming you are not vegetarian you will be preparing turkey. If you are vegetarian/vegan I have a hunch you can find recipes to keep you faithful to your choice. For those who just want to lighten up those heavy holiday meals, I’d start with Vegetarian Times. Why, I hear you ask? Because taking your side dishes up a notch will get more veggies into your meals with little effort.Stuffing ... dressing? What’s the difference? Even famous chefs around the world cannot agree, but it is my opinion that if it's cooked INSIDE the bird it's stuffing and if it's cookout OUTSIDE the bird it's dressing. Now, back to the issue at hand. Is there a ‘good for you’ stuffing? Remembering moderation is important regardless of its health value (I often forget that!) ... but yes, there are some much better than others.Fruit and Toasted Almond StuffingThis recipe, created by Ricki Blau, won third place in Vegetarian Time's 2009 Reader Recipe Contest. Blau's family and friends range from omnivores to vegans, so when they gather for holidays she likes to prepare food they can all share. Blau put this recipe together last October when she hosted a few Canadian-American families for Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredient List

12 cups oatmeal bread or whole-wheat bread cubes

3/4 cup almonds, coarsely chopped

5 Tbs. olive oil

1 large red onion, quartered and thinly sliced (2 cups)

2 celery stalks, sliced (1 cup)

2 large apples, peeled and diced (3 cups)

3 Tbs. fresh sage, cut into thin strips

3 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp. Simply Organic Thyme Leaf

½ tsp. Simply Organic Crushed Red Pepper

½ tsp. freshly ground Simply Organic Black Peppercorns

½ tsp. Simply Organic Ground Nutmeg

2 Tbs. maple syrup

2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar

½ cup dried cherries

3 cups no-salt vegetable broth

Directions

Preheat oven to 225F. Spread bread cubes on baking sheet, and bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until dry and crisp. Transfer to large bowl.

Looking for some side dishes to replace or enhance your usual dishes? I’m sure you know all about the sweet potato casserole that finds its way to American Thanksgiving tables ... you know the one I mean with the cute little marshmallows sprinkles on top? Right? Well, here on Everyday Health, I found a great recipe that’s a bit more heart-healthy.Smashed Spiced Sweet PotatoesIngredients

4 pounds potatoes, sweet

2 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoon maple syrup

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper, black ground

PreparationPreheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Pierce each sweet potato in several places with a fork. Place directly on the oven rack and roast until soft, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer to a cutting board; let stand until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.

Slip off the skins and cut the sweet potatoes into 1-inch slices; transfer to a large bowl. Add butter.

Smash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher or fork until fluffy but some lumps remain.

Now, let’s talk about cranberry sauce. I hope you’re not opening a can of processed cranberry jelly or even the canned whole cranberry sauce that’s also available. This only takes a minute and uses heart-healthy walnuts, too! The sugar is still there, but you can substitute whatever sweetener you like.Heritage Lane Cranberry Sauce"I grew up on a secluded dirt road called Heritage Lane and every Thanksgiving my family would pick wild cranberries and make this sauce for our guests," reminisces Eden Hommes, who received honorable mention in VT's 2009 Reader Recipe Contest for this recipe.

Ingredient List

1 cup sherry or apple cider

1 cup sugar

½ tsp. Simply Organic Cinnamon Powder

2 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained

1 cup Bob's Red Mill Walnut Baker's Pieces

Directions

Bring sherry (or cider), sugar, and cinnamon to a simmer in saucepan over medium heat. Simmer 1 minute, or until sugar has dissolved. Add cranberries and walnuts, and cook 8 minutes, or until cranberries have popped, stirring constantly.

All in all, most everyone needs to make a change. Many people make the decision to “blow it” because it’s the holidays and come January they’re beating themselves up. I'd rather pat myself on the back for a job well done! Wouldn't you?

More holiday recipes coming next week. I plan to stay true to myself this holiday season and keep my eye on the ball ... staying heart-healthy!

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I am ...

... a former blogger for a health site, which means eating healthy aka heart smart
which has become a passion for me. I will start at the beginning when I first
discovered I had high cholesterol.
Blogger's Note: First and foremost, please do not go off any meds if
you are currently taking something for high cholesterol! It is critical
that you follow your doctor’s orders. I am NOT a doctor nor am I
experienced enough to provide you with advice.

This blog is simply my journal of how I lowered my cholesterol.
I am working with a doctor ... but, should you ask him he’d probably
say he worked for me, which is true and should be ... in my opinion.

The things I have changed have worked for me and may work for you, but
as I said, I’m not telling you to stop taking any meds your physician
has prescribed for you, but to talk to him about some options you are
willing to consider.